was the centre of Paul’s thought, Käsemann from the same background puts forward a view of ‘God’s righteousness’, focused on the crucified Christ, as the chief point in the whole scheme.16 The link with the post-Pauline church then requires a toning down of Paul’s polemic, and Käsemann finds this in the ‘deutero-Pauline’ and ‘early Catholic’ writings.17 Questions remain about the viability of this whole outline; but there should be no doubt that it is a thesis of this scope and breadth, and originality,